Process of concentrating ores and minerals by flotation



Patented June 19, 192.

U N l WILLIAM: A. DOUGLASS, OI PENNS GROVE,

warm.

new JEnsEY, assronon '10 n I. no 1 0111 DE nnmouas & comrm, or WILMINGTON, nnnawaan, A conronarron OF DELA- raocnss or concmwnarmo onus AND MINERALS BY FLorArIoN.

No. Drawing. Application filed June 25,

This invention relates to the recovery of valuable ores and minerals by flotation and comprises more particularly the concentration of such ores and minerals by means of a certain class of organic flotation agents.

7 I have discovered that flotation processes may be carried out .very efliciently by theuse of a very highly selective class of compounds, including alkyl thio urethanes and their derivatives. This classof compounds is characterized by having the following general graphical formula: I

in which Risany alkyl group and R and R represent hydrogen, or alkyl groups. These compounds are superior flotation agents and are susceptible of wide application. They may be prepared with comparative ease and in most cases are readily soluble in alkaline solutions. This solubility permits the use of theflotation agents in solution and by adding a solution of the agent just prior to actual flotation, it is possible to dispense with pre-agitation of the ore pulp with the flotation reagent. However, even when the reagents are not used in solution, it has been found that only a very brief preagitation with the ore pulp is required to obtain prop er dispersion.

The following are given as examples of some of the compounds which may be usedin the present invention and conforming to the general structural formula disclosed:

Methyl ester xanthogenamide NH CSOCH,, Ethyl ester xanthogenamide NH CSOC H Propyl ester xanthogenamide .NH CS0C,,H Bntyl ester xanthogenamide NH CSOC H,

and corresponding derivatives of the homologous series of alcohols, such' as:

Meth l ester xanthogen meth lamlde 'CH NHCSOCH Ethy ester xanthogen methy amide CHSNHCSOCEH5 Methyl ester xanthogen ethyl amide C' H5NHCS0CH$ Methyl ester xanthogen propyl amlde C H NHCS0CH as well as the corresponding derivatives of the homologous series of aliphatic amines.

Flotation tests made with compounds of this type as the flotation reagent were car-' 'ried out in the following manner: Five bun-- dred grams of ore from the Utah Copper Co. were ground '5 minutes in a ball mill with 350 cc. of water and 2.2 grams of lime. The pulp from the ball mill was ing 1926. Serial No. 118,590.

gram of the flotation agent were added and v the pie-agitation continued one minute longer. The pulp was diluted to cause circulation, and froth'was removed for 7 minutes, water being added as needed during the test. The results of this test were as follows: 4

Heads 7 1. 06% Cu.

Concentrates (rougher) 15. 50% Cu.

Tailin n 9% CU.- Recovery 8 A test was made on ore from the Phelps- Dodge Corporation using the same general procedure as outlined above. The results are included in the following data:

' Phenyl thio urethane 101b. per ton ore. Lime 2.4 lb. per ton ore. He 1. 48% Cu. Concentrate (rbugher) 6.66% Cu. Tallings 21% Cu. Recovery 88. 6%

When ore from the Pelphs-Dodge Corporation was treated in the Callow-cell and the new flotation compound dissolved in a sodium hydroxide solution prior to its addition to the cell the results obtained were practically the same as when the J anney machine was used. v

On ore from the Anaconda Copper Minfound to give. good results when only .02 lb. per ton of ore was used with an alkaline circuit.

Companywas treated in the Callow cell, a flotation agent oft-he to the cell in sodium hydroxide solution gave equally good results. L

The new flotation agentshave little froth.- ing power and, therefore, it is generally necessary to use a suitable frothing agent, such as ine oil .or a light creosote oil in conjunction with these compounds. The use of the'frothin agent is not always necessary, however, w1en certain of the tion agents are used, but it is usually advantageous' to employ a frothing agent with the flotation reagent.

Although in illustrating my new proce'ss, reference When ore.from the Inspiration Copper has been made specificall to copper ore and to various specific con itions of operation, it will be understood that the Company the new, flotation agents were type disclosed, added present flotapresent invention is not limited to specific are compounds of the class described.

The invention is not limited to the specific examples and substances disclosed but may be modified in many respects without departing from the scope thereof.

I claim:

1. In'the process of concentrating ores and minerals by flotation, prises subjecting the ore in-the form of a pulp to a flotation operation in the presence of a substance having the following general molecular formula:

1 R o N where R representsany alkyl group, and R the step which com-' and R represent hydrogen or alkyl groups.

2. In the process 'of concentrating ores and minerals by flotation the step which comprises subjecting theme in the form of a pulp to a flotation operation in the presence of an alkyl thio urethane.

3. In the process of concentrating ores and minerals by flotation, the step which comprises subjecting the ore in the form of a of a substance having the following general molecular formula:

R-O-iJ-r? where R represents an alkyl group, R represents an alkyl group and R represents hydrogen.

' In testimony WILLIAM A. DOUGLASS.

to a flotation operation in the presencewhereof I aflix my signature. 

